Cox: Players are feeling positive

Manager Paul Cox says there is a positive atmosphere in the camp ahead of our long trip to Plymouth Argyle.

Our team are set to make the gruelling 266-mile trek to Plymouth tomorrow and stay overnight, ahead of Saturday’s Sky Bet League Two fixture at Home Park.

Having lost only one of our last six matches – a 2-0 reverse to Scunthorpe United nearly three weeks ago – Cox is optimistic that we can continue our impressive recent form.

“The players now seem to be in a good place,” said our boss.

“Nobody is getting carried away and we’re not singing from the rooftops, but even the neutrals would say we clearly deserved to win the game [against Wycombe Wanderers] with the amount of chances that we created.

“Once again we found a goalkeeper in inspired form, but I’m getting tired of saying that. We just need to be a bit more ruthless in both boxes.”

Cox continued: “I can’t ask any more from my players. They’re working hard and we’ve got something to build on now. There’s a good feeling amongst us and a positiveness within the camp.

“We’ve got some tough fixtures coming up, but when you look at this league only the top seven are really guaranteed to, at the least, be in this division next season.

“So I think there’s going to be a lot of twists and turns and there’s going to be a lot of anxiety from a lot of football clubs in this league, between now and the end of the season.

“But talking about us, we’re working hard, we’re looking very hard to beat and more than anything, we’re creating some good chances.

“What we need to do now is just be more ruthless.”

Our team’s momentum was hampered earlier this week when our scheduled match with Bury had to be postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at One Call Stadium.

Reflecting on the postponement, Cox said: “It was disappointing, but we can’t control the weather. We’ve just get to get our heads round it and move on.

“I think we’re picking up a bit of momentum. We’ve had one defeat in six games and the boys did enough last Saturday to win two football matches, nevermind one.”

Elsewhere, Cox also revealed that he hasn’t had any phone calls in the past week from clubs enquiring about frontman Sam Clucas, who has scored 11 goals in 26 appearances this term.

He added: “I haven’t one phone call, but there is still 24 hours [in the transfer window] to go.

“Sam is a very good player and a lovely kid as well. He comes in and works hard and I’m sure at some point he’ll make the step up, but I think at this minute his learning curve is with us.”

Clucas could make his first start since in over six weeks in Saturday’s match at Home Park, whilst team-mate Ben Hutchinson is also fit again after injury.

Paul Cox's full interview from today's press meeting will be available on Stags Player later today. To subscribe, click here.